II-3 Śrī Bhāshya | Rāmānuja | 15

Topic 15 - The soul is an agent only so long as it is connected with the Upādhis

Sutra 2,3.40

यथा च तक्षोभयथा ॥ ४० ॥

yathā ca takṣobhayathā || 40 ||

yathā—Even as; ca—and; takṣa— carpenter; ubhayathā—is both;

40. And even as a carpenter is both.

The Self, although always provided with the instruments of action, such as the organ of speech, and so on, acts when it wishes to do so, and does not act when it does not wish to do so. Just as a carpenter, although having his axe and other implements ready at hand, works or does not work just as he pleases. If the internal organ, on the contrary, were essentially active, it would constantly be acting, since as a non-intelligent being it could not be influenced by particular reasons for action, such as the desire for enjoyment.

Here terminates the Adhikaraṇa of 'the agent.'